Pools takeover is OFF

Some breaking news this afternoon, and it’s bad news for everyone associated with Hartlepool United.

Hartlepool-born businessman Chris Musgrave has been in talks to buy the club but has confirmed in a statement that he’s withdrawing his interest.

The lengthy statement reads:

“Some weeks ago, I was approached by Christopher Akers-Belcher, the Leader of Hartlepool Council, to consider the prospect of buying Hartlepool United Football Club, so that it could be saved from financial ruin.

“It was clear to me that the Leader of the Council and his officials, intended to do everything possible to secure the long term future of the club, due to its social and economic importance to the town.

“On that basis, I agreed to entertain the possibility of purchasing the enterprise, providing the financial challenges were such, that I could accurately estimate the financial sum I would be required to inject into the club.

“I know very little about the game of football and I am not a football enthusiast, but I do understand the importance of the club to the town, as it has been an integral part of the community for over 100 years.

“It would be a sad day for Hartlepool, if such a vital asset was lost. No one wants to see that happen and I have been impressed with the spirit of the supporters and wider public in their efforts to save the club.

“I have had the good fortune to have been successful in business, for over 35 years and I do have substantial experience in making loss making businesses - profitable.

“Over the past two weeks, I have held meetings with officials of the Football Club, the Council and other parties, which has allowed me to interrogate the historical decision making of Executives of the club, with regard to the financial position in particular.

“I have concluded, that the financial challenges facing the club are serious indeed, but I have not been able to identify the exact amount of cash I would be required to make available to save the club. It has therefore been impossible for me to prepare a financial rescue package or a plan to deal with the long term, which is disappointing

“No one has ever made money out of this club. That was never my intention and I was prepared to provide finance to the value of over £1.5m, but I am not prepared to sign blank cheques, with no end in sight.

“As it stands, I do not intend to provide any funds to the Football Club, for reasons within this statement, but I do hope the club will saved.”

Fans from different clubs came to support Hartlepool FC in their hour of need (Image: Evening Gazette)

16:36Dominic Shaw

Winners & losers under Pulis - and those currently in flux

Tony Pulis’ Boro reign is approaching the one-month milestone.

So who are the big winners? The losers? And, five games in to life under Pulis, which players are in flux?

Three of those deemed ‘in flux’ by Jono are strikers.

One of which is Patrick Bamford.

Spent months on the sidelines under Monk before just starting to break into the Boro XI on a consistent basis before Christmas - making four consecutive starts after notching his first league goal of the season against Ipswich.

Bamford retained his place in the starting line-up when Craig Liddle oversaw the win over Bolton on Boxing Day, but then dropped back to the bench.

Indeed, his next four matches saw him make two substitute appearances and not feature at all twice, yet Pulis did hand him his first audition from the off against QPR on Saturday.

After a good team performance in west London, Bamford will be hoping he’s done enough to remain in Pulis’ XI long-term - but he again looks to be in a direct scrap with Martin Braithwaite and Johnson for minutes.

Do you agree with his take on which players are flourishing under the new boss and which players have plummeted down the pecking order?

Contract news in the Premier League

If that doesn’t lend itself to this graphic from a couple of years back then I don’t know what will...

15:51Dominic Shaw

Checking in on Saturday's FA Cup opponents

What to expect of Brighton this weekend?

Albion head for the Riverside without a win in five in the league and having lost 4-0 at home to Chelsea last time out.

Boss Chris Hughton often opts for wholesale changes in the cup competitions and, considering they face two huge games against Southampton and West Ham next week, you’d imagine that will be the case again.

Or does he go strong in a bid to stop the rot somewhat and in a bid for a morale boosting win.

Hughton’s Cup choices at the Riverside Stadium will be more intriguing than normal, writes Andy Naylor of the Brighton Argus today.

Fancy a cup surprise on Saturday?

Saying that, the bookies reckon a surprise would be an away win. They make Boro 6/5 favourites to knock the Premier League club out of the competition.

Brighton are around the 23/10 mark.

Brighton and Hove Albion Manager Chris Hughton

15:14Dominic Shaw

Ashley Fletcher latest

The striker is one Boro player whose short-term future is still unclear at this stage.

According to reports over the past couple of days, Leeds have joined Norwich and Sunderland in showing an interest in the striker.

Now that’s not the first time Leeds have quite fancied the forward. Garry Monk tried to sign him this time last year but West Ham failed to sign a striker so put the brakes on any outgoings.

They were also said to be interested in the summer before he moved to Boro.

Pulis hasn’t been pushed on Fletcher in the last week or so, but the striker has been included in the squad in each of the manager’s four games in charge so far.

His name is bound to crop up a few more times before next Wednesday night.

Ashley Fletcher

15:11Dominic Shaw

The latest transfer tittle-tattle

So, eight days to go.

Any movement? Nope.

Just more Adam Clayton and Ashley Fletcher speculation.

There’s a Bradley Dack denial on the back of reports that four clubs, including Boro, were keen.

De Laet's move confirmed

Jono brought you the news in the blog this morning that former Boro full-back Ritchie de Laet was set for a loan move from Villa.

Well now that move has been confirmed.

He’s joined Royal Antwerp on loan for the rest of the season, re-joining a club where the spend the early stages of his career.

De Laet, who’s 29, played 10 games for Boro in the promotion winning season. You’ll recall he won promotion and the Premier League title in the same year (!), dashing off from the Riverside after the Brighton game to join Leicester in their title winning celebrations.

It hasn’t really happened for him at Villa. He had a serious knee injury and hasn’t been able to force his way into Steve Bruce’s team since.

Best of luck to him in Belgium.

Ritchie de Laet in action against Blackburn

14:49Dominic Shaw

The team to beat in the Championship at the minute?

Fulham are very much a team on the charge, as they were last season at this time.

They’ve only lost one of their last seven - and that came at Sunderland!

They kept the heat on the teams in the top six with a 6-0 thumping of Burton at the weekend.

Only leaders Wolves have scored more goals than Slavisa Jokanovic’s team now.

14:34Dominic Shaw

Leo back on the training pitch in Brazil

A heart-warming sight.

It’s heartbreaking to imagine what Leo is going through but the former Boro goalkeeping coach is back doing what he loves in Brazil today, on the Fluminense training pitches.

The Forest view on Clayton

That, says Paul Taylor of the Post, is because “he’s experienced success and understands what is required to achieve it”.

Interestingly, Taylor says that Clayton, or any other midfielder who Forest sign, would be “bolstering a very good group of players in the centre of the pitch”.

One midfielder already there is Ben Osborn and the thinking in Nottingham is that AK could be the man to get the best out of the 23-year-old.

As the manager himself testified after the final whistle at Molineux, the 23-year-old is somebody who epitomises exactly the kind of qualities the Spaniard demands from his side.

Work-rate, energy, bravery on the ball, honesty, discipline and commitment. These are the Karanka trademarks from his time as manager at the Riverside, as he led Boro into the top-flight.

These were also qualities that flowed through the veins of the entire Forest side in the West Midlands, as we were delivered a tantalising taster of what could be on the horizon under him at Forest, as his in-depth preparation was rewarded with a finely-honed performance that shocked the Championship leaders.

Aitor Karanka and Adam Clayton with their Manager and Player of the Month awards for December 2015

12:46Jonathon Taylor

Fans are fairly adamant about this

This is a poll we’ve been running for the last couple of weeks.

It’s clear that Boro fans value Clayton’s contribution and what he offers the team. Understandably so - his performances did little to warrant his sudden demotion under Garry Monk.

While few can argue that Grant Leadbitter and Jonny Howson deserve their starting spots at the moment on merit, there is still a feeling that Clayton’s exile came at a time when he was still doing an important job for the team.

12:44KEY EVENT

5 key questions that could dictate whether Clayton stays or goes

Shall we talk Adam Clayton? The Nottingham Post today claim the Boro midfielder remains top of Forest’s January wish list.

But is it a possibility? Can Boro afford to allow the player to follow Adam Forshaw out of the door? Would the player want to leave?I’ve picked out 5 key questions that could dictate what the future holds for the well-liked 29-year-old, who has been a virtual ever-present since joining Boro in 2014. Well, until recently.

“P erhaps the key to the Clayton conundrum will be whether Pulis manages to find a suitable replacement to fill that gap in the short-term.

“But given Clayton’s quality and experience, a promotion winner who would walk into most sides in the Championship top six, finding a player with the same skill-set and ability will not be straightforward.

“And if you add the further complications of time constraints and fierce competition to the mix, it is a tough task for Boro to find an adequate replacement before next Wednesday evening.

Middlesbrough's Adam Clayton (Image: CameraSport)

“But central midfield seems to be an area Pulis wants to upgrade, whether that will be this month or in the summer.

“Boro’s reported interest in Liverpool youngster Marko Grujic earlier in the window suggests that Pulis is keen to find a more athletic option, something different to add to the midfield mix, with Boro lacking height and a natural box-to-box type.

“Ironically, Clayton used to be that player, a goalscoring midfielder at Huddersfield but who was eventually transformed into a defensive specialist under Aitor Karanka.

“So does the Boro boss think he has the right blend in that department to keep the club moving forward until the summer? That is a huge factor in whether Clayton stays or goes before the deadline.”

We also consider what Clayton’s valuation might be & whether any Championship side could afford to take him away from the Riverside.

“I’ve had injuries. I want to play in every game and every minute possible. I am looking forward to it.”

Stephens, however, refuted any suggestion that Saturday’s game will have a bit of extra edge for him after what happened last time.

“No, not really.

“Obviously, it wasn’t a good day the last time we went up there but it’s a different time. We’ve moved on from then and it’s a good game for us.

“In the last round it was a good performance, we were back to winning ways. You expect it to kick you on a little bit.

“It’s not done that but we get another opportunity to win a match. If we can go up there and get a good result we’ll take confidence from that.”

12:17Jonathon Taylor

Another ex-Boro man on the move

Remember Ritchie de Laet? He was pretty good towards the back end of 2015/16 while on loan from Leicester.

I still remember that outrageous goal-line clearance he did in the 2-0 win at Fulham. Good job, that man.

Well he’s now at Aston Villa, but has barely featured after suffering a serious knee injury last season.

Ritchie de Laet in action for Boro at Birmingham (Image: PA )

He’s back fit but can’t get into Steve Bruce’s side - and is reportedly heading back Belgium ahead of undergoing a medical at Royal Antwerp.

To be fair, if Fabio does leave, Boro will surely be looking for a back-up option who can cover on either flank...

12:11Jonathon Taylor

Boro marching up the table

In more ways than one!

Interesting, this. It is a league table which includes all Football League teams over the past six games, with rankings taking into account results, standard of opponents, league position differential and win/loss margin.

So according to this, only Fulham, Aston Villa, Brentford and Derby are in better form than Boro.

“For some, the fear with the latter is that some talented top club teenagers who have spent their early days playing a lot of Under-23 football aren’t quite ready for the rough and tumble of the Championship. Players like Miloš Veljković and Bruno Zuculini looked neat but didn’t impact on the game as much as you’d hope at Boro.

And can you guarantee a young player regular first team action? Premier League clubs are increasingly seeking those assurances.

The alternative to signing young talent on loan is going for experienced players who, for whatever reason, could be available.

“Not for one minute to suggest either of these have even crossed the mind of Tony Pulis, are or should be on Boro’s radar and whether they would improve the squad but Jon Walters and Dean Marney are two examples of Premier League players who were available on loan and who have interested Championship clubs this month.

“Should Pulis wake next Thursday having not made any signings, he won’t deem it a disaster by any means, but in an ideal world he still craves a tweak or two.”

First-team figures to feature tomorrow?

Boro’s Under-23s are in action on Wednesday lunchtime against Fulham (1pm kick-off) and it’ll be interesting to see whether any of Tony Pulis’ first-team squad are again given the nod.

In recent weeks, plenty of those who haven’t had much game-time in the first-team have turned out for the Under-23s - most recently in the 3-3 draw with Blackburn where Dael Fry, Adam Clayton, Marvin Johnson and Ashley Fletcher were all given a run-out.

Rockliffe Park (Image: Peter Reimann)

It’s a rearranged fixture from December, and Boro need just a point to return to the top of the Premier League 2 Second Division table.

It might also give us a decent insight into who might play in Saturday’s FA Cup game against Brighton.

11:27Jonathon Taylor

Referee confirmed for Saturday

Brighton head to the Riverside on Saturday afternoon for an FA Cup fourth round clash - and everyone will be thinking the same thing.

‘Please don’t let it go to a replay’.

The thought of a Tuesday night trek down to the Amex gives me a shudder. Alas, it’s an opportunity for Boro to highlight their progress under Tony Pulis and test themselves against a top-flight side.

Referee Anthony Taylor (Image: Getty Images Europe)

The referee has just been confirmed for that one - and it’s Anthony Taylor who’ll have the whistle.

He’s a Premier League regular and officiated four Boro matches last season - the 0-0 draw at West Brom, the FA Cup win over Accrington and the home defeats to Arsenal and Southampton.

11:20Jonathon Taylor

A Championship striker who's in-demand

Tell you what, if Tony Pulis is wanting a centre forward in the same mould as Rudy Gestede who has bags of Championship experience, then Derby’s Chris Martin seemingly fits the bill.

It’s a surprise that nobody hasn’t ‘linked’ Boro with the Scot so far this month, that’s for sure.

Chris Martin of Derby County

Alas, Sunderland hope to persuade Martin to join on loan until the end of the season, with the player heading to Wearside for talks last week.

But he’s since headed away with Derby to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp as he assesses his options, and the 29-year-old has recently been linked with Championship leaders Wolves and mid-table Reading.

More McGinn reports north of the border

He’s playing out of his skin and has already alerted the likes of Celtic and Rangers, but The Scotsman are today highlighting that Boro are also interested in the talented 23-year-old.

That’s something also claimed by The Sun last week. But the Scotland midfielder, who has 16 months left on his contract, suggested in an interview with MailSport over the weekend, that he’s ready to sit down and possibly extend his contract at Easter Road.

“I’ve never hid the fact that I’m ambitious and want to play at the highest level. But at the same time I won’t move just for the sake of it,” McGinn said.

“I’m fortunate to be at a big club. We’ve been in Europe, we’re challenging again and we’ve won silverware.

Hibernian's John McGinn

“I feel loved at Hibs and I’ve loved my time here. I’m in no rush to leave. We can achieve something special and it would take a fantastic opportunity to throw all that away.

“I’ve been linked with a lot of clubs but all I’m concentrating on is performing for Hibs and staying involved with Scotland.

“Myself, my agent and my family will sit down at the end of the season and take things from there.”

Doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to make a decision regarding his future.

Also, given Tony Pulis has already stressed on two occasions that he won’t be spending a penny this month, it suggests this one is possibly something to revisit at the end of the season...

10:43Jonathon Taylor

Tav's got a new boss at MK Dons

We were talking of Marcus Tavernier a little earlier.

Well MK Dons have just announced that Dan Micchiche is their new manager - so the man Boro’s talented winger must impress in training.

A quick google tells me that Micchiche was England’s former Under-16s coach, so that bodes well for Boro’s Academy breakthrough talent.

It’s his first senior appointment as manager, but he does have an experienced No 2 in Keith Millen - a former assistant of Tony Pulis.

10:13Jonathon Taylor

The stats from Boro's defensive pair on Saturday

Always like Stat Zone’s snazzy graphics.

They’ve looked at the respective contributions of Daniel Ayala and George Friend at Loftus Road - and the figures are impressive.

Interesting that Friend had more touches than Ayala, which is a tad unusual given most sides often give the ball to the centre-backs and play out from the back.

But this shows that under Pulis, clearly the message is to get the ball out wide to the full-backs, Ryan Shotton and Friend, at every opportunity.

10:10Jonathon Taylor

The 18 players who have got on the score sheet so far this season

Ok, you’ve had enough time to put your knowledge to the test. Anyone get 18/18?

Well here we go then, as Vic takes a look at the healthy spread of scorers this season in the Boro ranks.George Friend’s sizzler (let’s watch it again below) made it 17 different scorers for Boro this season, and then Adama Traore put the icing on the cake to become number 18.

That can only be a good thing for Boro - but how does it compare to previous years?

In recent years Boro have suffered from a lack of widespread firepower. If you only have one or two goal threats it is easy for them to be marked out of games and if they hit a dip in form you have a problem.

“Last season Boro had 12 different scorers over the whole campaign, which admittedly wasn’t one peppered with goals. Alvaro Negredo plundered 10, Marten de Roon and Cristhian Stuani scored five each and after that it all looks a bit sparse.

Cristhian Stuani (Image: Getty Images Europe)

“Even in the 2015/16 promotion season Boro weren’t prolific. Stuani top scored with 11 goals and there were 12 different goal-getters.

The campaign before - that ended with Wembley woe - also had only a dozen goal-getters, including Luke Williams and Bradley Fewster who celebrated early round League Cup goals.

“And that has been the norm for a while. The last season to feature more scorers than this one was the 2012-13 season under Tony Mowbray.

“That year a whole team bus of players got goal bonuses with 22 in all - although that was a crazy campaign in which a massive 33 players were used in all and the scorers included the likes of Merouane Zemmama, Andre Bikey, Sammy Ameobi, Seb Hines and Cameron Park.”

Ah, that Zemmama strike against Southampton! Will never forget that beauty!

Merouane Zemmama celebrates scoring the winner for Boro against Southampton in 2012

09:59Jonathon Taylor

A morning quiz to tackle

Right then, get your thinking caps on.

Before we touch on a piece looking at Boro’s 18 goalscorers this season, can you name them? Simply type in the surname of the Boro players who’ve hit the net this term (no first names required).

See how you get on!

09:49Jonathon Taylor

The winners at last night's Disabled Supporters' Association awards

Stewart Downing took the top gong, and it was good recognition for Marcus Tavernier - who took away the Young Player of the Year award.

He’s down on loan at MK Dons now, of course. He made his debut in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Northampton, after which Dons boss Robbie Neilson was sacked.

So Tav and co are now waiting to see who their new manager will be, not ideal for Boro’s bright 18-year-old.

Ex-Sunderland manager Simon Grayson was said to be in line to be Neilson’s successor yesterday, but has since ruled himself out of the running.